Celebrating the Economic Impact of the Arts

The arts are ingrained within the fabric of each student’s educational journey, helping them connect ideas to words as they discover how to communicate their own opinions and beliefs along the way. This past March, the Waterloo Schools’ Fred Becker Elementary welcomed its first teaching artist, Quynn Johnson Ed.M. Throughout her week-long residency, Johnson worked with students to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions by using tap dance and tableau. In addition to her classroom residency, Johnson also led a professional development session for staff at the elementary school, and a weekend workshop with Central Rivers Area Education Agency (AEA) , helping educators learn more about integrating the arts into their core curriculum throughout the school year.?

“The arts can be used to enhance academic subjects,” said Johnson. “I believe movement is a tool that allows you to use your body to express a feeling, emotion, idea, or thoughts even when your voice cannot.”?

Travis Gratteau-Zinnel , district instructional coach for fine arts, worked with University of Northern Iowa 's Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to develop a teaching artist residency program for the Spring semester of the school year. Throughout March, April, and May, three school buildings will be hosting different week-long teaching artist residencies, such as Johnson’s, allowing students, staff, and community to engage with tap dancing, playwriting, and memoir writing.?

“Waterloo, much like Iowa City and Des Moines, has a thriving arts community, so to further level up we’re investing in our local community by bringing in nationally-based artists to ignite and cultivate our very own local teaching artist cohort,” said Gratteau-Zinnel.?

By attending local art events, community members are investing in growing the area’s art programs simply by showing up. In the Cedar Valley, folks can find award-winning shows at UNI’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, explore new gallery exhibits at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, and see local community members bring plays to life at the Waterloo Community Playhouse and Black Hawk Children’s Theatre. Waterloo Schools is committed to investing in its community’s arts programs, stoking the flame of curiosity, and cultivating students who emerge from their schooling equipped with the knowledge and self-confidence to begin tackling the challenges of today.?.

Cary Darrah , Grow Cedar Valley president and CEO, says she sees the arts as an integral part of the community’s economic growth and success.?

“Local art, culture, and recreational assets are jewels to the Cedar Valley and help amplify placemaking efforts to attract and retain talent,” said Darrah. “These are the elements that will create a bond, making it hard to leave the area, and compelling to stay.”?

Throughout the area, local arts organizations are actively working to bring awareness to the economic impact of the arts, and their role in expanding both the community’s culture and growing workforce. In 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the arts and culture sector contributed $4.0 billion to Iowa’s economy. This impact can be attributed to Iowa’s tenacious artists and designers, who are interwoven throughout each of the state’s top industries, as well as over 42,000 employees in art-related businesses alone. In each sector of Iowa’s workforce, creative problem solvers are needed to help bring about the next wave of innovation, offering new ideas and fresh modernization to Iowa’s growing economy.